Coach Teddy Reveals His Favorite Depot Class!

In case you missed it, here's Ted's interview on heading back to Del Mar Fairgrounds for Regionals!

1. When did you start coaching at Depot?I started coaching at Depot in January 2014. Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long. To think back on it is pretty crazy. When I started, I’m pretty sure almost every class was just me and one other person for a good month or two.

2. What is your favorite class to teach and why? This is just asking to cause an uproar. Of course I don’t have a favorite class to teach. I like them all. Each group has its own unique vibe and that makes every class so interesting and fun to coach.

I won’t say they are my favorite BUT I have to give praise to the 5 AM class at West LA for having the will to not only wake up at 4:30 AM to come work out, but actually be excited, chatty, and motivated to do so. They come in and put in work and I respect that. Anybody who can do that 3-4 times a week deserves a shoutout.

3. Who do you look up to for inspiration and why?First and foremost, my parents. They’ve shown me what it means to really work hard for something. In CrossFit, it’s all of the other competitors I’ve watched compete and train over the past decade. Observing their determination, work ethic, consistency, and attention to detail has been very influential in my career. When I first started, I would watch some early CF Games athletes train and compete, and I told myself I wanted to be just like them.

Finally, what I witness every day at our Depot gyms is a huge inspiration. Watching you all PR your lifts, get fitter, and/or improve at certain skills is so motivating. When I get to witness first-hand all of the hard work you are putting in for days and months, and then to see it pay off… that’s an inspiration.

4. Do you have any pre-game rituals before going out to compete?I don’t. I usually just go through a routine warm-up and then go pee** at least 10 times in a span of 5 minutes because of how nervous I am and then it’s game time (I know you guys can relate because when I coach and say “10 seconds” before the workout starts, someone always runs to the bathroom). I wish I had something cooler to say but honestly, I just try to focus on my gameplan and then go out there and execute.

**On the topic of nervous pee: Last year, my friend and fellow Depot member Glenn Ochal bought me a bunch of beet juice to drink before my Regionals events; beet juice has nitrates in it and is supposed to promote blood flow. Little did I know it makes your pee red so that was a really unpleasant and scary surprise.

5. What big differences do you see by going Team this year than Individual from last year?I think one of the biggest differences is attacking workouts with a different game plan other than your own. For example, if we have to do 30 synchronized Toes to Bar, I might like to do 6 sets of 5 with very little rest whereas my partner might want to do 2 sets of 15. One of us has to sacrifice for the other to make sure we’re going to be able to handle the workout appropriately.

I also noticed doing larger sets in almost everything that you do reduces the amount of time you waste in transitions, so I typically have to toss out my individual game plan and stick with my teammates’.

6. What's your eating regimen right now?Nothing has really changed in my diet except I’ve lowered the amount of fat I eat. My wife Alexis started counting her macros and we realized that I eat almost 60 grams of fat, just for breakfast…which was the amount of fat she was allowed for her diet in a day! That being said, I’ve cooled off on the amount of bacon, sausage, and olive oil that I use when I cook. I still meal prep more than half of my meals, and while it can take a few hours out of my weekend, it’s 100% worth it. Not only do I save money, but I eat really well.

7. What are you most excited about eating after Regionals?EVERYTHING. Last year, I went to BJ’s in La Jolla every night after Regionals because it was really close to our hotel and because they had this amazing prime rib special. So I ordered that 3 nights in a row with broccoli and rice.

After my last event, Alexis asked me what I wanted to eat and I started listing off things…pizza, wings, pasta, fries, mac’n’cheese, sliders, and ice cream. Trying to think of a place that could possibly have all those things led us to go to well…BJs, again…but back home in Valencia. And yes, we ordered every single one of those things.

Good luck Coach Teddy and Team Training Lab!You can support Ted and his teammates Jamie Hagiya, Chelsey Grigsby, and Andrew Kong in their travels to Regionals this year by purchasing a shirt! Proceeds will help pay for travel costs. Pre-sale ends this Saturday, May 5th!

Purchase your shirt here$25 for 1 or $40 for 2Shirts will be delivered to each Depot location in time for Regionals. Just select "pick up" as your delivery option, and we'll let you know when your shirt is ready for pickup at your local Depot gym!